Electric self-winding clock.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

C. F. A. STURTS.

ELECTRIC SELF WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1904.

2 SHEETS-31131 1.

W ZWAfl PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

C. P. A. STURTS.

ELECTRIC SELF WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1904.

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Ma 12,112 M* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SELF-WINDING CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 3, 1904. Serial No. 211,066.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beitknown thatI, CHARLES F. A. STUR'rs. a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical VVinding Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

, My invention relates to electrical means for winding the springs oftimepieces.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for this purposein which simplicity in construction is combined with great accuracy andcertainty in operation; further, to do away with the electric motorscommonly employed in electrical clock-winding devices and to use insteada battery and an electromagnet and to so control the application of thecurrent that it is used withthe utmost economy, enabling the device tooperate during very long periods of time. By my device winding impulsesare imparted at comparatively short intervals .by means of electricalcontacts of exceedingly short duration. In practice I have estimated theduration of the contacts employed by me at one one-hundredth of asecond, and if, for example, eightof such contacts occur in the hour itis easy to calculate that with even a single cell of dry battery it willrequire several years to exhaust it even with the ordinary batterylosses and deterioration not due directly tothe closing of the circuit.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is an elevation of aclock-face with the casing of thewinding mechanism and the battery-receptacle shown in dotted lines. Fig.2 is an opposite elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of thewinding mechanism, showing an electromagnet with an armaturelever forgiving an impulse to the winding mechanism, the parts being in theposition they assume immediately before the impulse. Fig. 4: is asimilar elevation in which the impulse has been imparted, the electricalcontacts not having been broken. Fig. 5 is a similar elevation withcontacts broken and the parts in their normal position between impulses.Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the entire winding mechanism. Fig. 7 isa side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the associatedcontrolling and guard wheels on the center post or arbor. Fig. 9

is a similar elevation with the recesses in said Fig. 10 1s across-section wheels registering.

of both said wheels. Fig. 11 is an elevation of the Winding-ratchet andthe barrel inclosing the mainspring. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of thesame. Fig. 13 shows the end of the armature-lever and the beveled studwhich actuates the winding-ratchet. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section ofthe magnet casing with inclosed spool. Fig. 15 is a section to show themounting of the main arbor, winding-ratchet, and spring-barrel.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the number 1 may repre sent any suitable supportcarrying on one side a clock-face and on the other a casing 2, whichcontains the time-movement and the winding mechanism. The support haspreferably a receptacle 3 to contain a battery 4:. This makes a compactand convenient construction in which all parts are carried by the samesupport. The magnet 5 may be of any desired construction. I have shown asingle spool inclosed in a soft-iron casing and screwed firmly to thesame. The open end or rim of the spool-casing forms one pole and thecore of the spool the other. The circuit-wires 6 and 7 from the batteryare led in to the spool through holes 8 9 in the magnet-casing. Thecircuit is normally open and is closed at intervals, as hereinafterdescribed.

The center post or arbor of a clock, watch, or chronometer movement isshown at 11 projecting through the clock-front and carrying the handsand at its other end having a hearing in a stud 12 of the fixed bridge13, which is secured to the movement-plate by a post 10. A barrel 14 hasa bearing on the stud 12 and contains the mainspring 15, connected so asto transmit movement to the arbor in the usual way. This barrel has aratchet-rim 20. A movement-plate is represented at 16 and is supposed tocontain the train and the regulating and controlling parts of atime-movement of any desired character; but as these features form nopart of myinvention I have considered it sufficient to show the mainarbor and the means from which it derives its motion. The armature 17 ofthe magnet carries an arm 18, which is flexible, so that it can springslightly sidewise, and which has at its free end a beveled stud 19. Thisarm projects far enough for its stud to engage the teeth of thewinding-ratchet 20. hen the armature is attracted, the ratchet will bemoved in the proper direction for winding the spring. When the armatureis released, a spring 21 at its attached end throws it out to normalposition and causes the beveled stud 19 on the springarm 18 to slip backand over the next ratchettooth, the rear edge of each tooth being alsobeveled, as shown at 21 in Figs. 11 and 12. Fixed on the main arborbetween the movement-plate and the winding-barrel is a toothedcontrolling-wheel 22, having a circular periphery broken by recesses,which widen toward the center. This wheel has an extended hub 23, (shownin Fig. 10,) and on the hub is placed, directly alongside of wheel 22,aguardwheel 24, having a pin-and-slot connection with the wheel 22,which allows it a little movement independently of the hub upon which itis mounted. A spring 30 in the hollow body of wheel 24c tends to keep itin the position of Fig. 8. The wheel 24 has recesses shaped like thosein wheel 22 and adapted to register with them; but between theserecesses its faces are fiat and project at one edge beyond the arc ofthe periphery of wheel 22, as shown at 25. In the construction shownthere are eight of these recesses in each wheel, and they control theapplication of the winding impulses, so that such intervals take placeat the rate of eight in an hour or one every seven and one-half minutes.

Mounted upon a pin 26 in the bridge 13 are two levers or arms 27 28. Thelever 27 carries a pawl 29, which is adapted to engage with the teeth ofthe winding ratchet, as shown in Fig. 3. The lever 28 has a detent 31,adapted to act in connection with the wheels 22 and 2 1 and to engagewith the recesses in both when they register. Srn-ings 32 33 tend topress both levers in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5-that is, suchsprings tend to engage the parts 29 31, respectively, with ratchet 20and with wheels 22 and 2 1. The circuit-wires are in communication withthese springs, which are of course insulated from each other, as by arubber block 3 1, and the levers 2T 28 are also of insulating material.On one of the levers, as 28, is a pin 35, which is a contact member. Onthe other lever 27 is a fork 36, which is the other contact member, andthe two form a circuit-closer and circuit-ln'eaker. The combination of afork and pin makes an exceedingly quick and effective circuit-controllerwhether in making or in breaking the circuit and also forms aself-cleaning contact. Between winding inpulses the circuit is open, asshown at the contacts in Fig. 5, and no impulse can begiven until thecircuitis closed. The two wheels 22 and 24 act as a circuit-controller,because it is only when the recesses in said wheels register that thedetent 31 can fall into the associated recesses and enable spring 33 toforce the pin 35 into the fork 36. For the greater part of the intervalbetween two impulses the positions of wheels 22 and 21 are as shown inFig. 8, both wheels moving together with the arbor, their recesses outof register and the detent 31 riding on their peripheries. The registryor alinement of the recesses which permits the detent to drop into themis produced in the following manner: As the two wheels move together oneof the projecting angles of wheel 24 strikes the detent which is in itspath, and as wheel at is loosely mounted it is arrested. while wheel 22continues its motion until the two recesses adjacent to the detent arein alinement. 1nstantly the spring 33 acts the detent enters therecesses. and the pin contact engages the fork contact. The recesses arewider at the bottom in order to insure a complete clearance and preventany bearing or rubbing of the detent against their sides. The making ofthe contact causes the attraction of the armature, which gives a windingimpulse to the ratchet and swing-barrel. The pawl 29 has been inengagement with the ratchet and holding the arm 1.17 immovable, but themovement of the ratchet away from the pawl causes such pawl to ride uponthe incline of the next tooth against the pressure of spring 32 until itis released by the passage of the end of that tooth beyond it. Instantlyspring 32 snaps it into the next notch of the ratchet, and by the sameaction withdraws the fork from the pin and breaks the contact. Thelifting of the pawl 29 by theratchet-tooth and the consequent movementof lever 27, of which said pawl forms a part, transmits motion to thelever 28 and raises detent 31 from the associated recesses in wheels 22and 2 1. At the same time the other end of arm 27 presses the fork intoclose contact with the pin, the lever 28 yielding to the pressure. Assoon, however, as pawl 29 springs into the ratchet the fork contactmoves sharply away from the pin and spring 33 presses detent 31 towardthe controller. As spring 30 acted as soon as the detent was pushed outof the recesses, the position of wheels 22 and 2 1 changed from that ofFig. 9 to that of Fig. 8, leaving a continuous periphery for the detentto bear upon.

Referring to the successive operations illus trated by Figs. 3, 4;. and5, it will be seen that in Fig. 3 the circuit has been closed. This wascaused by the detent 31 entering the recesses in the controller, asshown in Fig. 9. Of course all the operations take place practicallyinstantaneously, since it is estimated that the duration of theelectrical contact is only about one one-hundredths of a second; but inFig. 3 it is assumed, for the sake of clearness in description, thatalthough the contact has been made the armature has not yet beenattracted. The pawl 29 is in a notch of the winding-ratehet. In Fig. 4the armature has been attracted, the winding impulse has been given, thepawl 29 has been forced out to the extreme point of a ratchet-tooth, andthe lever 27 has pressed the yielding lever 28 upwardly, maintaining thecontact. .I n Fig. 5 the pawl 29 has sprung into the next notch of theratchet and has broken the contact in the manner before described. Thede- IIO ISO

tent 31 is riding on the now continuous periphery of the associatedWheels 22 and 24, the armature has been thrown out, and the beveled studon its spring-arm has slipped past the next ratchet-tooth into positionfor another winding impulse. The apparatus is in normal position andwill remain there until the next contact is made.

In showing and describing eight recesses in the controller, givingwinding intervals of seven and one-half minutes,l do not limit myself tothat particular number of recesses, as more or fewer can be used. I havefound in practice, however, that winding intervals of the said durationare the most satisfactory. If the winding intervals are very short, toomany contacts are made and the battery is too rapidly exhausted. 1f thewinding impulses are very long, much more power is required to turn thespring-barrel to the greater extent required, and it would be difiicultto actuate the barrel by the direct movement of the armature.

I do not limit myself to the specific constructions and arrangementsdescribed herein and shown in the drawings, as I desire to avail myselfof such modifications and equivalents as fall properly within the spiritof my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In electric winding apparatus. the combination with an arbor of atimepiece, of a Winding barrel and spring for actuating said arbor, anopenelectric circuit, a magnet and armature in the circuit adapted togive winding impulses to said barrel and spring, a controller comprisinga recessed wheel fixed on the arbor, a guard-wheel loosely connected tothe controller and having similar recesses normally out of register withthe recesses in the controller, a pivoted lever carrying at one end acontact and at the other a detent, and a second contact; the detentbeing adapted to arrest the guard-wheel and so permit the said recessesto register, and then to enter the as-- sociated recesses and therebycause the mak ing of the contact.

2. In electrical winding apparatus, the combination with the arbor of atimepiece, of a controlling-wheel fixed upon said arbor and aguard-wheel loosely mounted alongside of and loosely connected to thecontrolling-wheel, the controlling-wheel having a circular peripherybroken by recesses, and the guard-wheel having peripheral angles andbroken by recesses; and a spring tending to keep the recesses in theguard-wheel out of alinement with those in the controlling-wheel.

3. In an electric winding apparatus, the combination with atimepiece-arbor, of a springbarrel having a ratchet-rim the teeth ofwhich are beveled on one side, an electromagnet, an armature having anelastic arm capable of moving sidewise from its operative line of motion, and a beveled projection on the side of said arm adapted toactuate the ratchet and to move backward and sidewise over the beveledface of the ratchet-teeth.

t. In electrical winding apparatus, the combination of the followingelements: a timepiecearbor, a winding spring and ratchet,

means for giving successive impulses to the ratchet, a recessed wheel onthe arbor, aguardwheel loosely connected thereto, and also recessed, aspring-pressed arm having a detent and carryingacontact, anotherspring-pressed arm having a pawl for engaging the ratchet, and a contactcarried by said last-named arm; all constructed and arranged for theperformance of the following operations: the alinement of the tworecessed wheels, the entrance of the detent into two alined recessesthereof causing the making of the contacts and a movement of theratchet, the riding of the pawl outwardly upon a tooth of the ratchetcausing an increased pressure between the contacts and the retreat ofthe detent, the springing of the pawl in behind the said tooth of theratchet causing the breaking of the contacts, and the reestablishment ofthe recessed wheels with their recesses out of alinement.

5. A controller for electrical winding apparatus, comprising incombination with an arbor of a timepiece, a recessed wheel fixed on saidarbor, a loose guard-wheel also recessed and having a pin-and-slotconnection with said wheel, a spring bearing on the pin and tending tokeep the recesses in the two wheels out of alincment, and a detent forarresting the guard-wheel whereby the recesses can come into alinementand admit said detent.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 23d day of May, 1904.

CHARLES F. A. STURTS.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, FRANK F. Eeenns.

